The city of Madrid, located in the center if Spain, has many cultural attractions. Visitors will be able to visit the city’s art museums, palaces and parks.
Explore the city’s museums.
There are several museums in the city. The city’s three main art museums are the Prado, the nearby Reina Sofia and the Thyssen Bornemisza, which is one of the city’s largest art collections. These three museums form the Golden Triangle of Museums, which is located steps away from the historical city center, next to the Atocha train station. There are several other museums in the area, including the Naval Museum.
North of the city center visitors will find the Plaza de Colón, where a statue of Columbus and a large Spanish flag are located. In this area there are several museums, including the National Archaeological Museum and the Wax Museum. This plaza is located next to the chic Goya and Velazquez streets, which are known for their many boutique stores.
Spend an afternoon in the markets.
Madrid is a city known for its food and its nightlife. There are many markets in this city, where visitors will be able to find authentic Spanish products for a cheap price, an option for those who want to explore the city’s food culture on a budget. There are three main markets located in the city center. The San Miguel Market is steps away from the centric Puerta del Sol. This renovated market has a tapas bars and stalls selling fresh food. The Antón Martín Market is located near the central Atocha train station, a more traditional market with stalls selling local and ecological products. The San Antón Market is a smaller market with trendy tapas bars located in the Chueca party district.
Another way to taste what the city has to offer is by enjoying a tapas tour. Tapas are appetizers made from local ingredients that are served with each drink ordered in most bars. Some of the most popular tapas places are located in the La Latina neighbourhood, where, after a filling tapas dinner, visitors will be able to party until dawn.
Walk around the city center.
Many of the hotels and hostels located in Madrid offer walking tours around the city’s main attractions. The Puerta de Sol area is the city center, a large square known for the statue of the Oso y el Madroño, a bear with a madroño tree that has become the city’s symbol. From here visitors can walk down the Arenal street, filled with shops, towards the Royal Palace. This palace has more than two thousand rooms and guided tours are available around forty of the rooms, where visitors will be able to see art by Goya and Velazquez. Next to the palace is the Almudena Cathedral.
After touring the palace visitors can walk to the Templo de Debod, an Ancient Egyptian Temple that was brought from the Nubia region. This temple is located in a park known for its views towards the city. Steps away from the temple is the Plaza de España square, a popular meeting spot decorated with fountains. The main fountain is a large pillar with the sculpture of Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, and inside the fountains are the statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.
From this plaza visitors can walk up the Gran Vía, one of the city’s main streets. There are many bars, restaurants, shops and terraces along this street. The Fuencarral street, one of the streets that leads off the Gran Vía, has many independent designer stores and many chic lounges and clubs. Visitors will be able to enjoy a caña beer with some local tapas in this area.
